A lecturer and researcher from the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Biology UGM), Donan Satria Yudha, together with a collaborative team from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), has successfully identified a new species of legless blind skink (Dibamus) from Buton Island, Southeast Sulawesi.
The species, named Dibamus oetamai, not only enriches Indonesia’s biodiversity but also serves as a reminder of the importance of conserving tropical forests as critical habitats for endemic wildlife.
The findings were published in the Journal of Asian Biodiversity Taprobanica on Apr. 25, 2025.
Yudha recounted that the discovery began during his participation in the 2013 Sulawesi Corridor National Defense Forces (NKRI) Expedition initiated by the Indonesian Army Special Forces (Kopassus).
During the expedition, a student from the Biology UGM unearthed an unusual legless lizard specimen while digging soil. The sample was later sent to Yudha at the Animal Systematics Laboratory, Biology UGM.
The specimen was then examined together with Awal Riyanto, a herpetologist from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI, now part of BRIN’s Herpetology Research Group, Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution).
The identification process also involved one of Yudha’s students, Maximilianus Dwi Prasetyo, who used the research as the basis for his undergraduate thesis.
“Maxi Prasetyo’s thesis project, which I supervised, was further supported by Dr. Thasun Amarasinghe from BRIN and his colleagues. Eventually, it was confirmed as a new species and published in the journal,” Yudha explained in an interview on Thursday (Sep. 11).
Yudha further described that the newly identified blind skink possesses several morphological traits distinguishing it from other Dibamus species, particularly in the head region.
The primary differences lie in the absence of medial and lateral sutures on the rostral (snout) and the presence of complete sutures in the labial and nasal areas.
“The frontal scales are also larger than the frontonasal scales. Additionally, the interparietal scale is clearly smaller than the frontonasal, the nuchal scales number between four and six, there are two postocular scales, one supralabial scale, and other distinct features along the body and tail,” the biologist explained.
Despite being a significant finding, Yudha emphasized that Dibamus oetamai may face future threats.
As an endemic species to Buton Island, it has so far only been recorded in the protected forests of Kakenauwe and Lambusango, at elevations below 400 meters above sea level. Its habitat consists of seasonal rainforests with thick leaf litter.
“This species is highly dependent on forest ecosystems, which means its survival is very likely to be threatened if deforestation continues,” Yudha said.
According to Yudha, their main focus was the discovery of new species, but this research also underscores the reality that many unidentified species still exist in Indonesia’s forests, particularly on islands.
“If possible, I would like to advise the government not to clear or convert forests for human activities, because many new species remain undiscovered in forested areas across Indonesia, especially on islands like Buton,” he concluded.
Author: Lintang Andwyna
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: BRIN